Padma Awards 2017: Sharad Pawar, Murli Manohar Joshi get top honor

Ahead of the Republic Day celebrations tomorrow, the Central Government has announced the list of Padma Awardees for 2017. Some of the most well-known names to get the top honor include NCP Chief Sharad Pawar, BJP veteran Murli Manohar Joshi, Chef Sanjeev Kapoor, singers Kailash Kher and Anuradha Paudwal, cricketer Virat kohli, wrestler Sakshi Malik and gymnast Dipa Karmakar. After Bharat Ratna, the Padma Awards constitute the country’s highest civilian awards.

Awarded in three categories, the Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri, these awards are given every year, on the eve of Republic Day. The Awards are given in various disciplines/ fields of activities, viz.- art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, civil service, etc. ‘Padma Vibhushan’ is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service; ‘Padma Bhushan’ for distinguished service of high order and ‘Padma Shri’ for distinguished service in any field.

The Padma Awards 2017 list features 89 people, comprising 7 Padma Vibhushans, 7 Padma Bhushans and 75 Padma Shri Awardees. Nineteen among this list are women. Five people also belong in the category of foreigners, Non-Resident Indians and Persons of Indian Origin. Six people have been given the top honor posthumously, which includes former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Sunder Lal Patwa and former Lok Sabha Speaker PA Sangma.

A striking feature of this year’s Padma Awards is the focus on highlighting the great work done by the country’s ‘unsung heroes’. These people have done exceptional work in their respective domains, but have chosen to keep a low profile. Now, the government wants to share their stories with the entire country.